As-grown domain structure in lithium tantalate with spatially nonuniform composition

ABSTRACT

We investigated the as-grown domain structure in LiTaO₃ with different nonuniform spatial distributions of deviation from stoichiometry. The as-grown structure formed due to cooling below Curie temperature after vapor transport equilibration (VTE) process. The formation of wide charged domain boundary consisting of smooth head-to-head and zig-zag tail-to-tail charged domain walls and flat neutral domain walls was observed. The mechanisms of domain structure formation due to phase transition and subsequent cooling were explained. The different type of charged domain walls in ferroelectrics attracts interest due to possibilities of its applications.

KEYWORDS:

• domain structure evolution
• phase transition
• polarization reversal
• vapor transport equilibration

Acknowledgments

The equipment of the Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern nanotechnology” UrFU was used. The authors thank Gimadeeva L.V. for PFM measurements. The work was supported by Government of the Russian Federation (Act 211, Agreement 02.A03.21.0006). V.S. acknowledges financial support within the State Task from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (Project No. 1366.2014/236).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the State Task from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (Project No. 1366.2014/236) and Government of the Russian Federation (Act 211, Agreement 02.A03.21.0006).